Executive Director: Cathy Woodbeck

Each year I report on the programs, events and new development within TBMA. It never ceases to amaze me just how much I have to report on at the end of each fiscal year. What is an idea one year becomes a reality the next and before I know it Im reporting on it at the AGM. In retrospect, it often looks and sounds like an awful lot to accomplish within a year, but we did it and its a good thing we didnt get overwhelmed with the changes and growth.

As an organization and as a team of staff, we look forward to the challenges we will face with a mandate of commitment to quality service and a desire to meet newcomer needs, and each year we find new and exciting projects and partnerships that do just that. This past year has see a realization of some of the dreams we have had to become a one-stop shop for services to newcomers and to build capacity in the North. The creation and launch of our LINC School has been the most ambitious program we have taken on in a while, but it is one of the most successful and satisfying.

If you havent been to TBMA in a little while you wont recognize the place. The main hall was renovated to become two beautiful, large classrooms with LINC Levels 1 and 2 on the North side of the building and levels 3, 4 and 5 on the South side, while the office by the entrance is now a fabulous computer lab. Our grand opening was held on November 24 with many guests in attendance. On one of the first days of classes, I looked out my office window and saw groups of students walking down the street to school. It was a thrilling moment. The first year has been very successful, and we look forward to providing LINC for many years to come.

The partnership pilot with DOORS to New Life has proven to be another important part of our plan to provide one-stop service to the community. Having all of our newcomer services plus the LINC school under one roof has been beneficial to the newcomers. We feel a sense of accomplishment for having made the transition smoothly and have developed a workable partnership that has caught the eye of all of our funders. We look forward to many other similar partnerships across Northwestern Ontario. We value our partnerships with other agencies in the North. These partnerships enable us to respond to issues in a unified manner, often getting results because of our solidarity.

Our other notable partnership, of course, is with Thunder Bay Police and Diversity Thunder Bay and other participating groups. Building community capacity together was incredibly challenging as well as rewarding. Building partnerships and supporting each other in diversity work in our city is an extremely important part of the work we do. By involving the community on an organizational and individual basis, we help create a community of acceptance and understanding. The sphere of networking and influence is ever increasing and we find that momentum is building within the community.

As always, the emphasis within the office is to continue making our association a welcoming, responsive and responsible service provider to newcomers in the region. We take pride in the quality of service provided at TBMA, and in the ability of our staff to meet the needs of newcomers on a daily basis. The emphasis on quality service and on meeting newcomer needs in whatever form they request remains the TBMA standard. Our programs, as outlined further in the Annual Report, have served the newcomer community in many ways and provided for community participation in the process.

A committed team of staff make the programs that I propose each year a reality. They deliver the services well and work together solving issues for newcomers. Our staff support each other in their programs and refer clients smoothly to the other services of TBMA.

I would like to thank all staff, volunteers, committee members and directors for their continued commitment to TBMA. We have come a long way over the past ten years and continue to be successful because of everyone who is involved in this Association from Board to staff to volunteers and newcomers. We have set a high standard for ourselves, but I have no doubt that we can continue to main these standards and meet new and different challenges in the year ahead with confidence.

Cathy Woodbeck